The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-07
CAROLINA.
History of the Alleged Secret
Organization of the Col
ored Race.
The Whole Trouble Turns Out
to be Sensational
Exaggeration.

COLUMBIA, S. c., July 2.-Reports of
the organization of colored people in
Greenville, Laurens and Pickens counties,
continue to pour in, and exaggerated
stories of alarm of whites circulated. A
prominent farmer of the region says it is
not surprising the negroes should become
dissatisfied when they believe themselves
TO be systematically robbed of their hard
earned wages through farmers furnishing
supplies to them at exhorbitant prices.
The meetings held by the negroes are of
the Knights of Labor order, but some hot
headed colored men made incendiary
speeches and threats. One of them was
yesterday arrested in Greenville county.
Exaggerated stories of the probability
of war between the races at Fairview, in
Greenville county, have been telegraphed
over the country.
The matter has been fully investigated,
and it has been discovered that excite
ment existed only in a single neighbor-
hood, and chiefly among nervous women
and young men eager for sensation.
In May last, colored local organizers OF
the Hoover Co operative workers, started
several small clubs in Fairview. Meetings
we're held at late hours of the night and
with profound secrecy. The white people
heard of these meetings and became I'M
easy. Their inquiries were baffied, and
surmises are said to have be-
come facts, and the agitation grew
The people of Fairview are Scotch ano
Irish. When their young men grew rest
less the woman became uneasy at night
and when there were symptoms of de
moralization among farm laborers, they
| proceeded to cut at the root of thu
trouble. They met at Fairviev
church yesterday and organized, and SEN
guard of mounted men to the secretary
of the nearest Hoover club. He was fount
and required to surrender list of the
members, and guard was sent for eacf
of the seventeen men in the club. Eacf
member then came promptly. An in
formal court was organized and the
Hoover society was put on trial
the evidence Of It's members being
taken in writing. The negroes were ex
amined separately, and they conceded IL
the statement that they had been induced
to Join by the promise of the organizer
that, after July, rations would be ISSUED
4 to all members at half the present prices
| some Oh Unem udu uOUlOuo VI nUIlh
some time in the future for dollar da.
for farm laborers, but they had no def
mite time or place in view. One denie
solemnly that there was word or though
against the landlords or white people
Most of them had been told that if the
revealed anything about the society it
benevolent plans would b
destroyed, and they would be ar
rested by the United States governmet
The folly of the whole business wa
pointed out to them, and they were mott
fed that the white people would not alloy
any such organization to exist secretly
Then they were sent home, and they de
parted we'll pleased to be out of trouble
The same form was also repeated at Hope
we'll church, three miles from Fountain
inn, twenty -one Hooverites being arrested
questioned, with similar result, warne
and released. About one hundred arme
white men were present,but no harsh word
were used, and there was no excitement
The sheriff and trial Justice were present